minimal FU/h.-^PyriUs of the Incas. 357 



fulphate of nickel. This method of analyfis, which M. Proud has indicated, in combina- 

 tion with the ufe of fulphurated hydrogen, was found by him to be equally fuccefsful in 

 the complete feparation of nickel from iron, arfenic, and copper, which are almoft always 

 met with in the ores of this metal. 



The native iron of Peru is therefore, according to the experiments made by M. Prouflr, 

 an alloy of iron and nickel ; a new difcovery of the moft interefting nature. The prefcncc 

 of nickel in this alloy, obferves the author, appears to announce that it is the produdt of art; 

 but when it is confidered that there exifts a mafs of more than 1363 myriagrams (300 

 quintals) in a plain of more than 100 leagues in circumference, where there is neither 

 mountain nor water, rior fcarcely a (tone is to be found, the difficulty of the problem ftill 

 remains in all its force. Laftly, adds M. Prouft, if the power of uniting thefe metals in 

 fuitable proportions can be obtained by metallurgifts, they will have obtained an alloy which 

 will poflefs many advantages over other iron, and more particularly that of not being liable 

 to ruft. 



M. Prouft's memoir is concluded with fome detached fa£ts, as well on animal as on 

 mineral fubftances. ift. A myriagram (20 Fr. pounds) of beef, of which 25 hecotograms 

 (5 pounds) were bone, produced only one pound of common brown extraft, which was 

 elaftic, and of a tafte fimilar to concentrated or very ftrong foup. It would be impoffible 

 to convert this extradl into portable paftels without the addition of a rather large quantity 

 of the jelly of bones. Whenever beef is boiled in filver, this metal becomes black, as is the 

 cafe when it is ufed for the boiling of whey, frefli urine, &c. 76 hedograms (15 Fr. pounds) 

 of meat were reduced, by boiling, to ten pounds ; but the bones loft none of their weight : 

 whence it follows, that in order to extraft as much nutriment as is pofliblc from thefe 

 fubftances they muft be broken to pieces. 



The frefli decoftion of flefli is acid, and reddens the tin£lure of turnfole. The acid 

 which it contains appears to be the phofphoric } for lime water and ammoniac form a rather 

 abundant precipitate with it. Alcohol diflblves a portion of the extraft of flefti, and this 

 part being extremely fait, M. Prouft fufpe£led the prefence of muriate of ammoniac ; but 

 lime in powder not having feparated any ammoniac, he mixed a folution of platina with 

 it, which immediately furniflied him with muriate of platina and pot-afli. The deco£lion, 

 therefore, contains muriate of pot-a(h in abundance. M. Prouft had not time to examine 

 the other i'alts contained in the decoflion, nor tlie fubftance foluble in alcohol ; and he, 

 with reafon, complains that a fubftance fo neceflary for the nourifliment of mankind, has 

 not been made the obje£t of ferious chemical refearch. 



He made fome trials upon the pyrites of the Incas, to difcover if it did not contain gold 

 or fome other fubftance which might ferve to explain the caufe of the pale colour which 

 diftinguifties it. He only obtained, as the refidue of his folution, a black powder mixed 

 with fand. This powder was coal, which caufed a ftrong detonation with nitre. 



It has been thought, and it is ftill generally fuppofed, that the black duft which is depofited 

 during the folution of zinc in acids is carburet of iron j but M. Prouft found that it was 



a mixture 



